Clinical Significance of the Triglyceride-Glucose Index in Patients Requiring Nonsurgical Intensive Care.

The evaluation of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has not been sufficient in patients requiring nonsurgical intensive care.A total of 3,906 patients who required intensive care were enrolled. We computed the TyG index using the value on admission by the following formula: ln [triglyceride (mg/dL) × glucose (mg/dL) /2]. Patients were divided into three groups according to the TyG index quartiles: low (quartile 1 [Q1]; TyG index ≤ 8.493, n = 977), middle (Q2/Q3; 8.494 ≤ TyG index ≤ 9.536, n = 1,953), and high (Q4; TyG index > 9.537, n = 976). The median (interquartile range) TyG index was 9.00 (8.50-9.54); acute coronary syndrome (ACS) had the highest TyG index among all etiologies at 9.12 (8.60-9.68). A multivariate logistic regression model showed that ACS (odds ratio [OR], 2.133; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.783-2.552) were independently correlated with high TyG index. A Cox proportional hazards regression model revealed that, in ACS, the Q2/Q3 and Q4 groups were independent predictors of 30-day all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.778; 95% CI, 1.014-3.118; HR, 2.986; 95% CI, 1.680-5.308; respectively) and that in acute heart failure [AHF], the Q4 group was a converse independent predictor of 30-day all-cause mortality (HR, 0.488; 95% CI, 0.241-0.988).High TyG index was linked to ACS and negative outcomes in the ACS group; in contrast, low TyG index was associated with adverse outcomes in the AHF group.

Timing and Degree of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Requiring Non-Surgical Intensive Care.

BACKGROUND: The degree and timing of acute kidney injury (AKI) on admission and during hospitalization in patients requiring non-surgical intensive care remain unclear.Methods and Results: In this study, 3,758 patients requiring intensive care were analyzed retrospectively. AKI was defined based on the ratio of serum creatinine concentrations recorded at each time point (i.e., on admission and during the first 5 days in the intensive care unit and during hospitalization) to those measured at baseline. Patients were grouped by combining AKI severity (RIFLE class) and timing (i.e., from admission to 5 days [A-5D]; from 5 days to hospital discharge [5D-HD]) as follows: No-AKI; New-AKI (no AKI to Class R [risk; ≥1.5-fold increase in serum creatinine], I [injury; ≥2.0-fold increase in serum creatinine], and F [failure; ≥3.0-fold increase in serum creatinine or receiving dialysis during hospitalization]); Stable-AKI (Class R to R; Class I to I); and Worsening-AKI (Class R to I or F; Class I to F). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that 730-day mortality was independently associated with Class R, I, and F on admission; Class I and F during the 5D-H period; and New-AKI and Worsening-AKI during A-5D and 5D-HD. CONCLUSIONS: AKI on admission, even Class R, was associated with a poor prognosis. An increase in RIFLE class during hospitalization was identified as an important factor for poor prognosis in patients requiring intensive care.

Time-Dependent Changes in N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide and B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Ratio During Hospitalization for Acute Heart Failure.

The time-dependent changes in the simultaneous evaluation of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) levels during hospitalization for acute heart failure (AHF) remain obscure.A total of 356 AHF patients were analyzed. Blood samples were collected within 15 minutes of admission (Day 1), 48-120 hours (Day 2-5) and between days 7 and 21 (Before-discharge). Plasma BNP and serum NT-proBNP were significantly decreased on Days 2-5 and Before-discharge in comparison to Day 1, but the NT-proBNP/BNP ratio was not changed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the median NT-proBNP/BNP (N/B) ratio on Day 2-5 (Low-N/B versus High-N/B). A multivariate logistic regression model showed that age (per 1-year increase), serum creatinine (per 1.0-mg/dL increase), and serum albumin (per 1.0-mg/dL decrease) were independently associated with High-N/B (odds ratio [OR]: 1.071, 95%confidence interval [CI]: 1.036-1.108, OR: 1.190, 95%CI: 1.121-1.264 and OR: 2.410, 95%CI: 1.121-5.155, respectively). Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the High-N/B group had a significantly poorer prognosis than the Low-N/B group, and a multivariate Cox regression model revealed that High-N/B was an independent predictor of 365-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.796, 95%CI: 1.041-3.100) and HF events (HR: 1.509, 95%CI: 1.007-2.263). The same trend in prognostic impact was significantly observed in both low and high delta-BNP cohorts (< 55% and ≥ 55% BNP value on the start date/BNP value at 2-5-days).A high NT-proBNP/BNP ratio on Day 2-5 was associated with non-cardiac conditions and was associated with adverse outcomes even if BNP was adequately decreased by the treatment of AHF.

Evaluation of Plasma Xanthine Oxidoreductase (XOR) Activity in Patients with Cardiopulmonary Arrest.

Plasma xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) activity in patients with cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) has not yet been studied.A total of 1,158 patients who required intensive care and 231 control patients who attended a cardiovascular outpatient clinic were prospectively analyzed. Blood samples were collected within 15 minutes of admission from patients in intensive care patients, which were divided into a CPA group (n = 1,053) and a no-CPA group (n = 105). Plasma XOR activity was compared between the 3 groups and factors independently associated with extremely elevated XOR activity were identified using a multivariate logistic regression model. Plasma XOR activity in the CPA group (median, 1,030.0 pmol/hour/mL; range, 233.0-4,240.0 pmol/hour/mL) was significantly higher than in the no-CPA group (median, 60.2 pmol/hour/mL; range, 22.5-205.0 pmol/hour/mL) and control group (median, 45.2 pmol/hour/mL; range, 19.3-98.8 pmol/hour/mL). The regression model showed that out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) (yes, odds ratio [OR]: 2.548; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.098-5.914; P = 0.029) and lactate levels (per 1.0 mmol/L increase, OR: 1.127; 95% CI: 1.031-1.232; P = 0.009) were independently associated with high plasma XOR activity (≥ 1,000 pmol/hour/mL). Kaplan-Meier curve analysis indicated that the prognosis, including all-cause death within 30 days, was significantly poorer in high-XOR patients (XOR ≥ 6,670 pmol/hour/mL) than in the other patients.Plasma XOR activity was extremely high in patients with CPA, especially in OHCA. This would be associated with a high lactate value and expected to eventually lead to adverse outcome in patients with CPA.

Helicopter emergency medical service for patients with acute coronary syndrome: selection validity and impact on clinical outcomes.

Helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) has the potential to improve prognosis for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, adequacy and effectiveness of HEMS have not been fully evaluated. A total of 862 ACS patients transferred by emergency medical services were divided into two groups: patients transferred by HEMS (n = 171) or by ground ambulance (GA; n = 691). Among them, angiography images for 718 patients (149 in HEMS and 569 in GA group) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) images for 374 patients (75 in HEMS and 299 in GA groups) were analyzed. Additional analysis to compare 2-year cardiac mortality between groups was conducted following propensity score matching to adjust for inter-group differences. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (81% vs. 66%, p < 0.001) and cardiogenic shock (Killip IV; 20% vs. 10%, p < 0.001) at admission were more prevalent in HEMS than GA group. Time from admission to balloon angioplasty was shorter in HEMS group (median 54 min vs. 69 min, p < 0.001). Antegrade coronary flow was worse in HEMS group (TIMI flow grade 0 or 1; 68% vs. 51%, p < 0.001). Plaque rupture was more frequently detected by OCT in HEMS group (68% vs. 49%, p = 0.029). Following propensity score matching, the incidence of cardiac death was significantly lower in HEMS group (6.3% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.019). In conclusion, severe ACS patients requiring early reperfusion were appropriately triaged and transferred more rapidly by HEMS. Lower mortality in HEMS group after propensity score matching suggests that HEMS may improve cardiac mortality in ACS patients.

Systolic blood pressure and cardiac mortality related to serum total bilirubin levels at admission in patients with acute heart failure.

The impact of elevated total bilirubin (Tbil) levels on adverse clinical outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (HF) has not been fully established, although liver damage is common among these patients. We therefore examined the associations between Tbil levels at admission and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in patients with acute HF in an emergency setting and to evaluate clinical outcomes related to elevated Tbil, particularly in patients with SBP < 100 mmHg. Clinical data and outcomes in acute HF patients (n = 877) were compared according to Tbil quartiles. SBP values < 100 mmHg were more prevalent among patients in the highest quartile (Tbil ≥ 1.0 mg/dL) vs. others (15.4% vs. 3.1%, p < 0.001). Tbil levels were inversely and significantly correlated with SBP at admission (Spearman's ρ, - 0.243; p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier estimate survival curves showed that event-free survival was worse among patients in the highest Tbil quartile vs. others (78.5% vs. 90.4%, p < 0.001). When comparing survival rates among patients in SBP < 100 mmHg (n = 50), the difference of survival rate became larger for the patients in the highest quartile (n = 29) vs. others (n = 21) (41.4% vs. 77.7%, p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that Tbil ≥ 1.3 mg/dL, not SBP or B-type natriuretic peptide, independently and significantly predicted cardiac death within 180 days in acute HF patients with SBP < 100 mmHg (hazard ratio 3.74; 95% confidence interval 1.39-10.05; p < 0.001). In conclusion, Tbil levels were inversely correlated with SBP at admission in patients with acute HF. Tbil levels independently predicted the risk of 180-day cardiac mortality, especially in acute HF patients with SBP < 100 mmHg.

The prognostic impact of the serum heart-type fatty acid-binding protein level in patients with sepsis who were admitted to the non-surgical intensive-care unit.

Ongoing myocardial damage at the acme of the sepsis status has not been sufficiently evaluated. The clinical data of 160 sepsis patients who require intensive care and 127 outpatients with chronic heart failure (HF) were compared as a retrospective cohort study. Thereafter, the sepsis patients were divided into 3 groups according to the serum heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) quartiles [low H-FABP = Q1 (n = 39), middle H-FABP = Q2/Q3 (n = 81), and high H-FABP = Q4 group (n = 40)]. The H-FABP level was measured within 15 min of admission. The serum H-FABP levels in the sepsis patients [26.6 (9.3-79.0) ng/ml] were significantly higher than in the choric HF patients [6.6 (4.6-9.7) ng/ml]. A Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the survival rate of the high-H-FABP group was significantly lower than that of the middle- and low-H-FABP groups. The multivariate Cox regression analysis for the 365-day mortality showed that the high-H-FABP group (hazard ratio: 6.544, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.026-21.140; p = 0.002) was an independent predictor of the 365-day mortality. The same trend in the prognostic impact was significantly (p = 0.015) observed in the cohort that had not been suffering from the cardiac disease before admission. The serum H-FABP level was an independent predictor of the 365-day mortality in the patients who were emergently hospitalized in the intensive-care unit due to sepsis. Ongoing myocardial damage was detected in the majority of patients with sepsis, suggesting that ongoing myocardial damage might be a candidate predictor of adverse outcomes in sepsis patients.

The Prognostic Impact of Hospital Transfer after Admission due to Acute Heart Failure.

The prognostic impact of transfer to another hospital among acute heart failure (AHF) patients has not been well elucidated.Of the 800 AHF patients analyzed, 682 patients were enrolled in this study for analysis. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their discharge location: discharge home (Group-H, n = 589) or transfer to another hospital for rehabilitation (Group-T, n = 93). The Kaplan-Meier curves revealed a poorer prognosis, including all-cause death and heart failure (HF) events (death, readmission-HF), in Group-T than that in Group-H (P < 0.001, respectively). A multivariate Cox regression model showed that Group-T was an independent predictor of 365-day all-cause death (hazard ratio: 2.618, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.510-4.538, P = 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that aging (per 1-year-old increase, odds ratio [OR]: 1.056, 95% CI: 1.028-1.085, P < 0.001), female gender (OR: 2.128, 95% CI: 1.287-3.521, P = 0.003), endotracheal intubation during hospitalization (OR: 2.074, 95% CI: 1.093-3.936, P = 0.026), and increased Controlling Nutritional Status score on admission (per 1.0-point increase, OR: 1.247, 95% CI: 1.131-1.475, P < 0.001) were associated with transfer to another hospital after AHF admission. The prognosis, including all-cause death, was determined to be significantly poorer in patients who were transferred to another hospital, as their activities of daily living were noted to lessen before discharge (n = 11) compared to others (n = 82).Elderly AHF patients suffering from malnutrition were difficult to discharge home after AHF admission, and transfer to another hospital only led to adverse outcomes. Appropriate rehabilitation during definitive hospitalization appears necessary for managing elderly patients in the HF pandemic era.

Clinical Significance of the Fibrosis-4 Index in Patients with Acute Heart Failure Requiring Intensive Care.

The Fibrosis-4 (FIB4) index could indicate the liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatic diseases. It was calculated using the following formula: (age × aspartate aminotransferase [U/L]) / (platelet count [103/µL] × âˆšalanine aminotransferase [U/L]). However, the clinical impact of the FIB4 index in the acute phase of acute heart failure (AHF) has not been sufficiently investigated.A total 1,468 AHF patients were analyzed. The median FIB4 index was 2.71 [1.85-4.22]. The patients were divided into three groups according to the quartiles of their FIB4 index (low-FIB4 [Q1, ≤ 1.847], middle-FIB4 [Q2/Q3, 1.848-4.216], and high-FIB4 [Q4, ≥ 4.216] groups). A Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the prognosis, such as all-cause mortality and HF events within 365 days, was significantly poorer in the high-FIB4 group than in the middle-FIB4 and low-FIB4 groups. A multivariate Cox regression model identified high FIB4 index as an independent predictor of 365-day all-cause death (hazard ratio (HR): 1.660, 95% CI: 1.136-2.427) and HF events (HR: 1.505, 95% CI: 1.145-1.978). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the high plasma volume status (PVS) (Q4, odds ratio [OR]: 2.099, 95% CI: 1.429-3.082), low systolic blood pressure (SBP) (< 100 mmHg, OR: 3.825, 95% CI: 2.504-5.840), and low left ventricular ejection fraction (< 40%, OR: 1.321, 95% CI: 1.002-1.741) were associated with a high FIB4 index.A high FIB4 index can predict adverse outcomes in AHF patients, which indicate that congestive liver and liver hypoperfusion occur due to low cardiac output in the acute phase of AHF.

[Effective Treatment of Secondary Spontaneous Pneumothorax due to Pulmonary Mycobacterium Avium Complex by Thoracoscopic Intra-fistula Filling with Suture Closure].

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax associated with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection is often difficult to treat. Pneumothorax associated with pulmonary MAC is characterized by a large fistula with a cavity or bronchodilation, and pleural thickening due to pleurisy. Herein, we report two cases of pneumothorax with pulmonary MAC successfully treated by minimally invasive thoracoscopic intra-fistula filling with a suture closure method. At operation, after fully filling the fistula with a polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet and fibrin glue, the fistula was sutured with covering the PGA sheet and fibrin glue. Postoperative course was uneventful and both patient could discharged from the hospital.

Characteristics of Patients with an Abnormally Decreased Plasma Xanthine Oxidoreductase Activity in Acute Heart Failure Who Visited the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: The factors associated with a low plasma xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) activity were not elucidated in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). METHODS: Two-hundred and twenty-nine AHF patients who visited the emergency department were prospectively analyzed. AHF patients were divided into 3 groups according to the plasma XOR quartiles (Q1 = low-XOR group [n = 57], Q2/Q3 = middle-XOR group [n = 115], and Q4 = high-XOR group [n = 57]). The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score were evaluated. RESULTS: The multivariate logistic regression model showed that the nutritional status (PNI: OR 1.044, 95% CI 1.000-1.088; CONUT: OR 3.805, 95% CI 1.158-12.498), age, and serum creatinine level were independently associated with a low plasma XOR activity. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed a significantly lower incidence of heart failure events in the low-XOR group than in the middle + high-XOR group (hazard ratio, HR 1.648, 95% CI 1.061-2.559). In particular, a low XOR activity with an increased serum creatinine level (>1.21 mg/dL) was independently associated with heart failure events (HR 1.937, 95% CI 1.199-3.130). CONCLUSION: A low plasma XOR activity was associated with malnutrition, renal dysfunction, and aging in AHF. A low XOR activity complicated with renal dysfunction leads to adverse long-term outcomes.

Plasma xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) activity in patients who require cardiovascular intensive care.

Hyperuricemia is known to be associated with adverse outcomes in cardiovascular intensive care patients, but its mechanisms are unknown. A total of 569 emergency department patients were prospectively analyzed and assigned to intensive care (ICU group, n = 431) or other departments (n = 138). Uric acid (UA) levels were significantly higher in the intensive care patients (6.3 [5.1-7.6] mg/dl vs. 5.8 [4.6-6.8] mg/dL). The plasma xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) activity in the ICU group (68.3 [21.2-359.5] pmol/h/mL) was also significantly higher than that in other departments (37.2 [15.1-93.6] pmol/h/mL). Intensive care patients were divided into three groups according to plasma XOR quartiles (Q1, low-XOR, Q2/Q3, normal-XOR, and Q4, high-XOR group). A multivariate logistic regression model showed that lactate (per 1.0 mmol/L increase, OR 1.326; 95%, CI 1.166-1.508, p < 0.001) and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (per 1.0 point increase, OR 1.095, 95% CI 1.034-1.160, p = 0.002) were independently associated with the high-XOR group. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the high-XOR group (n = 28, 26.2%) than in the normal- (n = 11, 5.1%) and low- (n = 9, 8.3%) XOR groups. The high-XOR group (vs. normal-XOR group) was independently associated with the in-hospital mortality (OR 2.934; 95% CI 1.170-7.358; p = 0.022). Serum UA levels and plasma XOR activity were high in patients admitted to intensive care. The enhanced XOR activity may be one of the mechanisms under which hyperuricemia was associated with adverse outcomes in patients requiring cardiovascular intensive care.

Mechanisms of Urgently Presenting Acute Heart Failure.

The mechanisms of urgently presenting acute heart failure (AHF) are not clear. We evaluated the serum catecholamine values of AHF patients immediately after admission. A total of 1,475 AHF patients were screened, and 484 who were admitted from their homes and in whom serum catecholamine could be evaluated immediately after admission were analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups according to the time interval from the onset of symptoms to admission (OA): < 3 hours (early-OA group; n = 283), 3-24 hours (middle-OA group; n = 142), and ≥24 hours (late-OA group; n = 59). In the early-OA group, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly higher, orthopnea was more frequent, the pH value was significantly decreased, and the use of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation was required significantly more often than in the other groups. The serum noradrenaline level was significantly increased in the early-OA group (1.96 [1.02-3.60] ng/mL) than in the middle-OA (1.49 [0.73-3.41] ng/mL) and late-OA (1.40 [0.91-2.42] ng/mL) groups, and the adrenaline level was significantly increased in the early-OA group (0.36 [0.13-1.17] ng/mL) than in the late-OA (0.22 [0.09-0.52] ng/mL) group. A multivariate logistic regression model indicated the early-OA group was independently associated with the SBP > 140 mmHg (odds ratio [OR]: 2.219, 95% CI: 1.375-3.581), midnight/early morning admission (OR: 3.158, 95% CI: 2.048-4.868), and high serum catecholamine value (adrenaline > 0.96 ng/mL, noradrenaline > 3.39 ng/mL, and dopamine > 0.21 ng/mL) (OR 2.091, 95% CI: 1.161-3.767). In conclusion, urgently presented AHF might be induced by an endogenous catecholamine surge, which causes an excessive rise in blood pressure leading to increased after-overload and volume-shift lung congestion.

Impact of Accumulated Serum Uric Acid on Coronary Culprit Lesion Morphology Determined by Optical Coherence Tomography and Cardiac Outcomes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the relations of very high levels of serum uric acid (sUA) with features of culprit lesion plaque morphology determined by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: We retrospectively compared ACS patients according to sUA levels of > 8.0 mg/dL (n = 169), 7.1-8.0 mg/dL (n = 163), 6.1-7.0 mg/dL (n = 259), and ≤6.0 mg/dL (n = 717). Angiography and OCT findings were analyzed in patients with preintervention OCT and the 4 sUA groups (> 8.0 mg/dL, n = 61; 7.1-8.0 mg/dL, n = 72; 6.1-7.0 mg/dL, n = 131; and ≤6.0 mg/dL, n = 348) were compared. RESULTS: Cardiogenic shock was more prevalent in ACS patients with sUA > 8.0 mg/dL (22% vs. 19% vs. 10% vs. 6%, p < 0.001). Plaque rupture was observed more prevalently by OCT in patients with sUA > 8.0 mg/dL (67% vs. 47% vs. 56% vs. 45%, p = 0.027). At the 2-year follow-up, Kaplan-Meier estimates showed higher cardiac mortality in patients with sUA > 8.0 mg/dL (25% vs. 12% vs. 5% vs. 5%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and creatinine levels, patients with sUA > 8.0 mg/dL showed a 4.5-fold increased risk in 2-year cardiac death by multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis (hazard ratio 4.54, 95% confidence interval 2.98-6.91; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Very high sUA levels like > 8.0 mg/dL are the primary predictor of 2-year cardiac mortality and could partly be caused by adverse effects of accumulated sUA on plaque morphology in patients with ACS.

Features and Outcomes of Patients with Calcified Nodules at Culprit Lesions of Acute Coronary Syndrome: An Optical Coherence Tomography Study.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to clarify clinical features and outcomes related to calcified nodules (CN) compared with plaque rupture (PR) and plaque erosion (PE) detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT) at the culprit lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: Based on OCT findings for culprit lesion plaque morphologies, ACS patients with analyzable OCT images (n = 362) were classified as CN, PR, PE, and other. RESULTS: The prevalence of CN, PR, and PE was 6% (n = 21), 45% (n = 163), and 41% (n = 149), respectively. Patients with CN were older (median 71 vs. 65 years, p = 0.03) and more diabetic (71 vs. 35%, p = 0.002) than those without CN. In OCT findings, the distal reference lumen cross-sectional area (median 4.2 vs. 5.2 mm2, p = 0.048) and the postintervention minimum lumen cross-sectional area (median 4.5 vs. 5.3 mm2, p = 0.04) were smaller in lesions with CN than in those without. Kaplan-Meier estimate survival curves showed that the 500-day survival without target lesion revascularization (TLR) was lower (p = 0.011) for patients with CN (72.9%) than for those with PR (89.3%) or PE (94.8%). CONCLUSIONS: ACS patients with CN at the culprit lesion had more TLR compared to those with PR or PE.

The prognostic impact of malnutrition in patients with severely decompensated acute heart failure, as assessed using the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score.

Patients with heart failure (HF) are sometimes classified as malnourished, but the prognostic value of nutritional status in acute HF (AHF) remains largely unstudied. 1214 patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit between January 2000 and June 2016 were screened based on their serum albumin, lymphocyte count, and total cholesterol measures. A total of 458 HF patients were enrolled in this study. The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) is calculated as 10 × serum albumin (g/dL) + 0.005 × lymphocyte count (per mm3) (lower = worse). The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is points based, and is calculated using serum albumin, total cholesterol, and lymphocyte count (range 0-12, higher = worse). Patients were divided into three groups according to PNI: high-PNI (PNI < 35, n = 331), middle-PNI (35 ≤ PNI < 38, n = 50), and low-PNI (PNI ≥ 38, n = 77). They were also divided into four groups according to CONUT score: normal-CONUT (0-1, n = 128), mild-CONUT (2-4, n = 179), moderate-CONUT (5-8, n = 127), and severe-CONUT (≥9, n = 24). The PNI, which exhibited a good balance between sensitivity and specificity for predicting in-hospital mortality [66.1 and 68.4%, respectively; area under the curve (AUC) 0.716; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.638-0.793), was 39.7 overall, while the CONUT score was 5 overall (61.4 and 68.4%, respectively; AUC 0.697; 95% CI 0.618-0.775). A Kaplan-Meier curve indicated that the prognosis, including all-cause death, was significantly (p < 0.001) poorer in low-PNI patients than in high-PNI groups and was also significantly poorer in severe-CONUT patients than in normal-CONUT and mild-CONUT groups. A multivariate Cox regression model showed that the low-PNI and severe-CONUT categories were independent predictors of 365-day mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 2.060, 95% CI 1.302-3.259 and HR 2.238, 95% CI 1.050-4.772, respectively). Malnutrition, as assessed using both the PNI and the CONUT score, has a prognostic impact in patients with severely decompensated AHF.

Prognostic benefit of maintaining the hemoglobin level during the acute phase in patients with severely decompensated acute heart failure.

The optimum method of managing anemia during the acute phase of acute heart failure (AHF) remains to be elucidated. The data from 1109 AHF patients were enrolled in present study. The hemoglobin (Hb) levels were evaluated in all patients at admission (day 1) and 3 days after admission (day 3), and in survival discharge patients (n = 998) before discharge (pre-discharge). The serum hemoglobin levels were significantly lower on day 3 (11.2 (9.6-12.9) g/dl) than on day 1 (12.4 (10.4-14.2) g/dl) and at pre-discharge (11.6 (10.1-13.2) g/dl). A multivariate Cox regression model showed that mild anemia (11.0 ≤ Hb ≤ 12.9 g/dl, n = 316) and severe anemia (Hb ≤ 10.9 g/dl, n = 517) on day 3 were independent predictors of HF event (hazard ratio (HR) 1.542, 95% confidence interval (CI)1.070-2.221, HR 2.026, 95% CI 1.439-2.853), and severe anemia on day 3 were independent predictors of 365-day mortality (HR 2.247, 95% CI 1.376-3.670). The prognosis, including all-cause death and HF events, in patients with non-anemia on day 1 was significantly poorer in severe new-anemia patients on day 3 (n = 44) than in mild new-anemia patients on day 3 (n = 153) and non-anemia patients on day 3 (n = 252). In patients with anemia on day 1, the prognosis was significantly poorer in patients with severe anemia on day 3 (n = 190) than in those with non-anemia or mild anemia on day 3 (n = 482). The hemoglobin level after the initial treatment might be easily influenced by clinical decongestion. Successfully treated decongestion can help maintain the hemoglobin levels. It, therefore, leads to a prognostic benefit in patients with AHF. These findings might underscore the importance of hemoglobin management of the acute phase of AHF.

Prognostic benefit of acute heart failure associated with atherosclerosis: the importance of prehospital medication in patients with severely decompensated acute heart failure.

Atherosclerotic diseases sometimes contribute to acute heart failure (AHF). The aim of the present study is to elucidate the prognostic impact of AHF with atherosclerosis. A total of 1226 AHF patients admitted to the intensive care unit were analyzed. AHF associated with atherosclerosis was defined by the etiology: atherosclerosis-AHF group (n = 708) (patients whose etiologies were ischemic heart disease or hypertensive heart disease) or AHF not associated with atherosclerosis (non-atherosclerosis-AHF) group (n = 518). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the survival rate of the atherosclerosis-AHF group was significantly better than that of the non-atherosclerosis-AHF group within 730 days of follow-up. Regarding pre-hospital medications, atherosclerosis-AHF patients were more likely to be administered nitroglycerin (20.3 vs. 13.7%, p = 0.003), nicorandil (18.8 vs. 7.5%, p < 0.001), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) (46.5 vs. 38.6%, p = 0.006), ß-blocker (33.2 vs. 26.6%, p = 0.014) and statin (30.1 vs. 22.4%, p = 0.003) because of a previous coronary event or atherosclerotic diseases. In sub-group analysis of medication including administered ≥ 3 drugs within 5 medications and ACE-I/ARB, atherosclerosis-AHF significantly decreased the rate of all-cause death within 180 days (hazard ratio (HR) 0.215, 95% CI 0.078-0.593 and HR 0.395, 95% CI 0.244-0.641, respectively) with a significant interaction (p value for interaction 0.022 and 0.005, respectively). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the 180-days survival rate of the atherosclerosis-AHF group with ACE-I/ARB and ≥ 3 drugs were significantly better than other groups. The AHF patients associated with atherosclerosis lead to be a good long-term outcome. A relationship may exist between efficient treatment including ACE-Is before admission and a good outcome in mid-term.

Decreased blood glucose at admission has a prognostic impact in patients with severely decompensated acute heart failure complicated with diabetes mellitus.

The prognostic impact of a decreased blood glucose level in acute heart failure (AHF) has not been sufficiently clarified. The data from 1234 AHF patients were examined in the present study. The blood glucose (BG) levels were evaluated at admission. The patients were divided into groups based on the following: with or without diabetes mellitus (DM), and BG level ≥ 200 mg/dl (elevated BG) or < 200 mg/dl (decreased BG). The elevated and decreased BG patients were further divided into another three groups: 200 mg/ml ≤ BG < 300 mg/dl (mild-elevated), 300 mg/ml ≤ BG < 400 mg/dl (moderate-elevated) and BG ≥ 400 mg/ml (severe-elevated); and 150 mg/ml ≤ BG < 200 mg/dl (mild-decreased), 100 mg/ml ≤ BG < 150 mg/dl (moderate-decreased) and BG < 100 mg/ml (severe-decreased), respectively. The DM patients had a significantly poorer mortality than the non-DM patients. The prognosis was different between patients with elevated or decreased BG. In DM patients with elevated BG, the severe-elevated patients had a significantly poorer prognosis than moderate- and mild-elevated patients. In the DM patients with decreased BG, the severe-decreased patients had a significantly poorer prognosis than those moderate- and mild-decreased patients. The multivariate Cox regression model showed that a severe-decreased [hazard ratio (HR) 3.245, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.271-8.282] and severe-elevated (HR 2.300, 95% CI 1.143-4.628) status were independent predictors of 365-day mortality in AHF patients with DM. The mortality was high among AHF patients with DM. Furthermore, both severe hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia were independent predictors of the mortality in patients with AHF complicated with DM.